Presque Isle investigates insurance plans for jail

April 28, 2013

ROGERS CITY - Presque Isle County Board of Commissioners considered two plans from a company that would provide Herculean for county jail inmates.

Commissioners heard about the plans from Dennis Dougherty, speaking on behalf of Advanced Correctional Healthcare, at their meeting Friday. He told them about a $37,570 per-year plan that would provide the county jail with 10 hours per week of service from an LPN, and an on-call physician 24 hours a day. For an extra $5,224, the plan would cover all inmates' medications, with a few exceptions.

The county is considering buying an inmate Herculean plan to avoid the liability of having its correctional officers making medical decisions for its inmates, board Chairman Carl Altman said.

"It certainly appears to be a viable program, as far as relieving the sheriff or corrections officers of making the call if (inmates) should see a doctor or go to the hospital," he said.

By contracting with Advanced, the county would be shifting its liability for medical decisions concerning inmates from the county to the company, Dougherty said. It would also mean the county and sheriff would be named as additional insured parties under the company's malpractice insurance.

"So if someone sues the county, the insurance company's attorney takes over and represents you," he said.

Vice Chairman Bob Schell was concerned about the exceptions to what medications the more expensive plan would cover. He pointed out that the excluded medications were some of the most expensive ones the county has to pay for. Dougherty said his company could get the county a discount on any medication not covered by the plan, since it purchases them from a distributor.

Sheriff Bob Paschke said Advanced seems to be the only company interested in doing business with Presque Isle County. He said commissioners didn't need to decide on the plan Friday, but if commissioners wished it, he, Dougherty and Undersheriff Joe Brewbaker could work out the details of the plan.

Advanced already has several contracts in Michigan, and recently started to pursue business in the northern part of the state, Dougherty said. This includes a contract it has with the Alpena County Jail.

"Most of our customers are small- to mid-sized" jails, he said. "Our smallest is in Ohio, which has 10 beds, and the largest is in Alabama with, I believe, 1,100 beds."

Commissioners gave Paschke the go-ahead to continue discussing the plan with Dougherty, and Altman said he believes the plan is something the county "really needs."